YouSaid · the spoken record

Secretary-General

lines on the record: 2,998
first: 1995-09-26
most recent: 2021-05-16
sittings or episodes: 363
sources: un-security-council

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“I urge the Security Council, Syria's neighbours and regional sponsors ofthe Syrian parties to stem all flows of arms and foreign fighters pouring into the country. While ending the bloodshed remains primarily the responsibility ofthe Syrian parties, especially President Bashar Al-Assad, there is much that the region and the international community can do to starve the fire of its fuel. We must also build on the political momentum that has been generated by the nuclear agreement between Iran and the P5+1 countries. The unity that generated that agreement can help point the way towards conflict resolution in Syria and greater stability across the region. For the moment, the greatest obstacle to ending the Syrian war is the notion that it can be won militarily.”
2015-07-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7497 (2015) · source
“Some argue that we must wait to end this nightmare until there is a more propitious alignment of regional and international circumstances. This would be both immoral and irresponsible. We must not condemn the Syrian people to even deeper despair. We must not condemn the region to unending turmoil. Today I ask the Security Council to endorse Mr. De Mistura's recommendations and work with the Syrian parties to convince them to participate constructively in this proposed process. Just as important, the Council has a responsibility to support the political process by acting to de-escalate the conflict. We must ensure that these preparatory negotiations are meaningful and not cynically exploited as a licence to continue the killing.”
2015-07-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7497 (2015) · source
“Such a body is the top priority for the opposition, while the Syrian Government has told us that such an institution would be unconstitutional. Although difficult, these are not insurmountable obstacles and differences. Mr. De Mistura will therefore present a proposal to launch a political process aimed at enabling Syrians to negotiate a framework agreement on how to implement all aspects of the Geneva communique. The main goal of these preparatory negotiations will be to reach an intra-Syrian agreement on the elements of the Geneva communique, including on the issue of the transitional governing body, as well as to effectively fight terrorism. I stand ready to convene a high-level international conference to endorse any recommendations or agreement that this Syrian-led political process may reach. The status quo in Syria is unacceptable.”
2015-07-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7497 (2015) · source
“Thirdly, the Syrians with whom we spoke share many of the same aspirations. They want to protect the country's sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence, and to determine their own future free from external intervention. They consider it impossible to return to the past. They reject violent extremism and terrorism, and support a non-sectarian, multi-confessional and inclusive society. And they yearn to build a genuinely democratic Syria based on human rights and the rule of law. Fourthly and finally, the consultations made it clear that the major stumbling block in the political process remains the issue of forming a transitional governing body with full executive powers that can create a suitable environment and safety for all during the transition.”
2015-07-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7497 (2015) · source
“Syrians and external actors alike share a sense of concern regarding the threshold that the conflict has now reached. No one wants to risk the chaos of an uncontrolled transition in Damascus. All reject the possibility of a future Syria divided along sectarian lines. Many of the Syrians we spoke to warned that the country is entering a cycle of fragmentation and radicalization that will be hard to get out of. Our Syrian interlocutors also lamented that their country is caught in a regional proxy war that is beyond the Syrians' ability to resolve by themselves. Almost all pointed to the urgent need for the international community to act now if we want to save and preserve what is left of Syria. As the situation deteriorates, the Syrians predict that the prospects for achieving a political solution will also recede.”
2015-07-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7497 (2015) · source
“The document contains principles and guidelines for ending the violence and launching a Syrian-led political process leading to a transition that meets the legitimate aspirations of the Syrian people. The communique remains the only internationally agreed basis for a political settlement to the Syrian conflict, and it is the foundation for recent initiatives such as the Cairo and Moscow processes. Mr. de Mistura will brief the Council today on his consultations. I would like to highlight four key points. First, his description of the state of the Syrian crisis synthesizes what we have heard from an inclusive and representative group of Syrian and non-Syrian stakeholders. Secondly, amid gaping fault lines, there are points of consensus on which a credible political process could be constructed.”
2015-07-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7497 (2015) · source
“Funding for humanitarian activities continues to be outpaced by the gargantuan and ever- growing scale of people's needs. The situation is a clear threat to international peace and security that should compel us all to consider what more we can do to end the carnage and uphold our responsibilities. It was in that context that, on 28 March, I instructed my Special Envoy for Syria, Mr. Staffan de Mistura, to intensify the efforts of the United Nations to find a political settlement to the conflict. Specifically, I asked him to work to operationalize the Geneva communique (S/2012/522, annex). The Security Council unanimously endorsed the Geneva communique in its resolution 2118 (2013).”
2015-07-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7497 (2015) · source
“Thanks to a massive cross-border exodus, Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan and Iraq are hosting an ever-growing number of refugees, and increasing numbers of Syrians are making desperate journeys across the Mediterranean in so-called death boats. Atrocious crimes are now almost an hourly occurrence, fed by a lack of accountability for the major human rights violations committed over the past four years and through decades of repression. The Syrian people have been exposed to chemical weapons that should have been things of the past, and to new, indiscriminate killing devices such as barrel bombs and hell cannons. The conflict has given rise to terrorist groups such as Daesh and the Al-Nusra Front, and it has fuelled sectarianism and radicalization throughout and beyond the region.”
2015-07-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7497 (2015) · source
“Mr. President, I warmly welcome your leadership in presiding over today's meeting. After more than four years of slaughter, the Syrian conflict has become a shameful symbol of the international community's divisions and failure. I am profoundly disappointed that none of the Council's resolutions on Syria - whether aimed at ending the violence, easing humanitarian suffering or combating terrorism and foreign fighters - has been implemented. Syria is the world's largest humanitarian crisis, as the Council heard yesterday in harrowing detail from the Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs (see S/PV.7493). At least a quarter of a million Syrians have been killed. Almost half of the country's population - 12 million men, women and children - have been forced to flee their homes.”
2015-07-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7497 (2015) · source
“I also wish to reassure everyone that I am committed to ensuring that the United Nations itself does more and better to prevent any abuse of children in the context of conflict. Recent allegations concerning abuse in the Central African Republic make that all the more essential. I urge Member States, and in particular all the parties to conflict identified in the report, to work with my Special Representative to prevent future grave Violations against children. Children have the right to be protected in their schools, in their homes, in their communities. Let us keep the rights of children at the centre of our efforts to build a future of dignity for all.”
2015-06-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7466 (2015) · source
“It increases global awareness, highlights the need for accountability and calls for action. It is a stark reminder that the protection of children in armed conflict must be our common priority. A healthy debate in which Member States put forward their Views and provide information is appropriate. But national interests should not cloud the objective at stake - protecting children, which is a moral imperative and a legal obligation. Those who engage in military action that results in numerous grave Violations against children will, regardless of intent, find themselves under scrutiny. Member States should pursue all avenues to protect children affected by armed conflict. One important way is by ending impunity for the violations outlined in the report.”
2015-06-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7466 (2015) · source
“My Special Representative will continue to work with such groups to ensure that we are doing our utmost to protect children in these most difficult environments. Grave violations against children are of great concern both in countries of origin and in countries to which children flee. Children may cross the border to flee conflict, but that does not mean that they are safe from its effects. They require urgent and sustained protection interventions. I regret that the contents of my annual report this year on children and armed conflict have been the subject of more controversy and discussions than usual, to the extent of threatening its integrity. The mechanism has withstood scrutiny, and the content of my report should speak for itself. It represents a strong overview of egregious violations suffered by children in conflict in 2014.”
2015-06-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7466 (2015) · source
“The "Children, Not Soldiers" campaign is based on many years of work to change attitudes. This year has witnessed further progress. We are moving ever closer towards a world in which no child wears a Government uniform and engages in combat. I encourage those concerned Governments represented in the Chamber today to redouble their efforts to implement the goals of the campaign and to work with my Special Representative. However, there is still much to do in addressing the challenge of ending grave violations against children by non-State armed groups. The report before the Council highlights some progress made in that regard. For example, the release of 1,757 children from the Cobra Faction is a bright spot in an otherwise bleak picture in South Sudan.”
2015-06-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7466 (2015) · source
“The large number of abductions by Daesh and Boko Haram has shocked us repeatedly in recent months. But we should also recognize that the practice is prevalent in many other situations covered by the report and is perpetrated by a great range of other non-State armed groups. I am pleased that at the last open debate on children and armed conflict, in March (see S/PV.7414), there was broad support from Member States to address the challenge and increase the tools available to deal with it. Next month, we will mark the tenth anniversary of the Council's resolution 1612 (2005), which established the monitoring and reporting mechanism on the recruitment and use of child soldiers. My Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict and her predecessors have made great strides in protecting children from recruitment.”
2015-06-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7466 (2015) · source
“I urge Israel to take concrete and immediate steps, including by reviewing existing policies and practices, to protect and prevent the killing and maiming of children and to respect the special protections afforded to schools and hospitals. Around the world, many thousands of children have experienced acts that no child should suffer. They have been killed, maimed, forcibly recruited, tortured and sexually abused. Their schools have been destroyed. And in a worrying trend, abductions have increased rapidly. Groups such as the Lord's Resistance Army have been kidnapping children for many years, but the scale and nature of that grave violation is changing. Abduction is now being used as a tactic to terrorize or target particular ethnic groups or religious communities, and children have been a particular focus.”
2015-06-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7466 (2015) · source
“I thank the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Malaysia, His Excellency Dato Sri Anifah Aman, for arranging this critical debate on children and armed conflict. The past year was one ofthe worst in recent memory for children in countries affected by conflict. My report (S/2015/409) before the Council outlines the enormous challenges we face in upholding the fundamental rights of tens of millions of children. We have seen crises multiply and intensify, making protection more and more difficult. Grave violations against children have been an affront to our common humanity in the Central African Republic, Iraq, Nigeria, South Sudan and the Syrian Arab Republic. I am also deeply alarmed at the suffering of so many children as a result of the Israeli military operations in Gaza last year.”
2015-06-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7466 (2015) · source
“The United Nations will continue to work actively with Member States to forge more comprehensive and creative approaches to address this multidimensional threat, emphasizing the importance that we should attach to ensuring that they are fully anchored in the rule of law and human rights.”
2015-05-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7453 (2015) · source
“The United Nations Counter-Terrorism Centre's project on enhancing the understanding of the phenomenon of foreign terrorist fighters in Syria, which I announced at the Security Council high-level meeting held in September 2014 (see S/PV.7272), is aimed at understanding the underlying drivers of the phenomenon of foreign terrorist fighters with a view to assisting Member States in crafting a better policy response. I welcome the recent interest that many affected countries have expressed in that project. I remain concerned that recent events, particularly in Iraq and Syria, which have seen the advance of Daesh and other groups with the growing support of foreign terrorist fighters, demonstrate that this is an increasing threat to international peace and security that requires even more concerted action by the international community.”
2015-05-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7453 (2015) · source
“I intend to present a plan of action to prevent violent extremism to the General Assembly at its seventieth session later this year. I also welcome other Council initiatives, including the upcoming special meeting of the Counter-Terrorism Committee on stemming the flow of foreign terrorist fighters, which will be held in Madrid on 27 and 28 July. In support of the implementation of resolution 2178 (2014), I have instructed the Counter-Terrorism Implementation Task Force in the Department of Political Affairs to establish an inter-agency working group on foreign terrorist fighters to coordinate the work of all relevant United Nations entities.”
2015-05-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7453 (2015) · source
“Radicalization is the essential precursor to individuals becoming foreign terrorist fighters. Building effective, accountable and inclusive governance and institutions is an important element of preventive efforts. Youth today are the group most prone to radicalization, Violent extremism and recruitment as foreign terrorist fighters. Most foreign terrorist fighters are young males between 15 and 35 years of age motivated by extremist ideologies. However, we should also address the conditions and factors leading women and girls to join the ranks of Daesh and other terrorist groups. I welcome this growing emphasis on addressing the underlying drivers of Violent extremism at the global, regional, national and local levels to prevent radicalization.”
2015-05-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7453 (2015) · source
“That includes, in particular, international human rights law, international refugee law and international humanitarian law. When counter-terrorism efforts ignore the rule of law and violate fundamental rights, they not only betray the values they seek to uphold, but can also end up further fuelling violent extremism. To ensure consistency with human rights principles, measures to implement resolution 2178 (2014) must be clear and precise, as required by the principle of legality. Exceptional and lawful restrictions imposed on rights must be specific, necessary and proportionate. The United Nations stands ready to assist Member States in implementing those standards. Ultimately, we have to address the conditions conducive to young men and women being lured by violent extremism.”
2015-05-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7453 (2015) · source
“This trend means more foreign terrorist fighters on the front lines, a bigger pool of expertise available to terrorists and a menace to their countries of origin once they return. The Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team established pursuant to resolution 1526 (2004) estimates that over 25,000 foreign terrorist fighters from over 100 Member States have travelled to Syria and Iraq, as well as Afghanistan, Yemen and Libya. No country can tackle this challenge alone. Member States must enhance their cooperation and exchange information, develop effective border controls and strengthen their criminal justice systems, in accordance with the rule of law and human rights standards. Full compliance with international law is central to success.”
2015-05-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7453 (2015) · source
“I thank those present for their participation in spite of their very busy schedules. I would also like to welcome Mr. Jiirgen Stock, Secretary General of INTERPOL, and to thank him for his participation. I also recognize the leadership and contributions of the Chairs of the Securty Council Committees established pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999) and 1989 (2011), and resolution 1373 (2001), the Ambassadors of and Lithuania and New Zealand, respectively. Since the adoption of resolution 2178 (2014), the flow of foreign terrorist fighters that have joined the ranks of Daesh and other terrorist groups continues to grow. There has been an estimated 70 per cent increase in foreign terrorist fighters worldwide between the middle of 2014 and March 2015.”
2015-05-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7453 (2015) · source
“It can remove source material for improvised explosive devices and interrupt the resupply of ammunition into crime and conflict areas. Cutting ammunition flows has an immediate impact on the intensity of armed activity. In situations where there is high risk to civilian populations, this should be a priority. The causes of conflict are complex. However, weapons, ammunition and their storage facilities are physical commodities. Guns can be licensed, marked and confiscated; ammunition can be tracked, removed or destroyed; and depots can be guarded, cleared or secured. Deny access to illegal weapons and ammunition, and you deny criminals, armed groups and extremists a central means to perpetrate violence, intimidation and harm. That must be our common goal.”
2015-05-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7442 (2015) · source
“States must enforce arms embargoes and strengthen United Nations missions tasked with arms and ammunition identification, recordkeeping, tracing and stockpile management. States contributing troops and police can assist by deploying personnel with the relevant expertise. I also encourage greater efforts to accelerate the exchange of operational information on arms trafficking. In all aspects of arms and ammunition management, States can make use of the tested standards and guidelines developed by the United Nations. And as an international community, we should think creatively. States may already be implementing good practices that could become a global standard. One area that deserves far more attention is ammunition. Monitoring ammunition flows can help identify sources, trafficking patterns and diversion points.”
2015-05-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7442 (2015) · source
“I encourage all Member States to accede to the Treaty and to faithfully implement it. A universal ATT, adequately implemented, is critical to removing the tools for armed conflict. The ATT and other instruments can prevent the misuse and illicit circulation of the thousands of weapons that are often part of the roots of conflict. My report to the Council highlights (S/2015/289) two key elements to tackle this worldwide challenge. First, we need to ensure that the use of weapons and ammunition by national security forces conforms with commitments under global treaties and instruments. That also means ensuring the proper and safe storage of weapons and ammunition. Secondly, we need further measures to combat the proliferation of illicit weapons.”
2015-05-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7442 (2015) · source
“Poor weapons management is an area of alarming concern. Many States lack thorough planning and consistent attention to the safe storage, handling, transportation and disposal of their arsenals. The recent entry into force of the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) laid the foundations for a global framework of arms transfer controls, including for small arms and light weapons and ammunition. The ATT is designed to help advance international peace and security, reduce human suffering and promote cooperation, transparency and responsible action on the part of States. The ATT requires exporting States parties to ensure that their arms exports will not be used, for instance, to violate arms embargoes, fuel conflict, facilitate terrorism or engage in serious violations of international human rights or humanitarian law.”
2015-05-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7442 (2015) · source
“I thank the President for convening this important debate. Over the past decade, the world has been afflicted by over 250 conflicts. While no two have been the same, the widespread availability of small arms and light weapons and their ammunition is common to all. More than 50,000 men, women and children are killed each year as a direct consequence, and the number of those displaced has reached levels not seen since the Second World War. Civilians, including children, suffer the most. Ruthless, targeted attacks on schools, hospitals and markets continue, against all basic principles of international law. The diversion of weaponry, including from Government stockpiles, is further fuelling conflict, allowing rebels, gangs, criminal organizations, pirates, terrorist groups and insurgents to bolster their firepower.”
2015-05-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7442 (2015) · source
“I thank the Peacebuilding Support Office, the Alliance of Civilizations and the United Nations agencies and partners that contributed. I am also developing a comprehensive plan of action to prevent violent extremism that will seek to engage and empower youth, which I will submit it to the General Assembly later this year. Too often, the speeches in the Security Council focus on problems in the search for solutions. Today, let us see young people as the solution to our most vexing problems. They yearn for a more just and peaceful world, and, with our help, they can create it.”
2015-04-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7432 (2015) · source
“Youth organizations can help in peacebuilding if we scale up their activities and invest in their ideas. Education is critical. Ijoin the call of United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Al Huessein for deploying "weapons of mass instruction" to foster a culture of peace. That is more than a Clever slogan, it is an effective strategy. Youth peace groups, especially in conflict-torn areas, deserve our unstinting support. Even in peaceful countries, youth policies are underfunded, and they are not applied to security issues. Young people are inheriting the world. With more resources, they can be a force for peace, reconciliation and democratic governance. The United Nations is working to listen to youth and to respond to their concerns. We have launched the Guiding Principles on Young People's Participation in Peacebuilding.”
2015-04-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7432 (2015) · source
“Here is a message recently posted on Facebook by the Dream Achievers Youth Organization in Kenya: "Let all youth across East Africa turn away from joining militia groups and rather focus on solidarity, tolerance and intercultural understanding." There are countless youth groups that want to wage peace, not war. They want to fight injustice, not people. I applaud those heroes, and especially the heroines. Gender equality is fundamental to combating violent extremism. Youth suffer on the front lines of war, but they are rarely in the back rooms where peace talks are held. I call for giving young people a seat at the negotiating table. They pay a price for the fighting, and they deserve to help structure the healing. That is essential to lasting stability.”
2015-04-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7432 (2015) · source
“She could have enjoyed a comfortable life there - but she went back to Somalia to lead a non-governmental organization that helped victims of gender-based violence. I met a Syrian girl in a refugee camp who dreamed of becoming a doctor so that she could help others. My Envoy on Youth, Ahmad Alhendawi, says that young people drive change but they are not in the driver's seat. I agree, and I call for giving them the licence to steer our future. They have idealism, creativity and unprecedented powers to network. They often understand the complexities of war and the requirements for peace.”
2015-04-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7432 (2015) · source
“We remember the students killed by Al-Shabaab in Garissa, Kenya, as well as those massacred by the Taliban in Peshawar, Pakistan. Violent extremists deliberately target youth for exercising their human rights. I am distressed by the tragedy ofyoung people who are conscripted, kidnapped and killed. But I am also impressed by young people who survive war and champion peace. In Sierra Leone a few years ago, I cheered at a football match of amputees who had lost limbs in the conflict. They taught me the true meaning of recovery. Earlier this year, the Security Council heard from a young woman named Ilwad Elman (see S/PV.7374), whose father was a peace activist in Somalia. When he was assassinated, she had to move to Canada.”
2015-04-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7432 (2015) · source
“Rima Khalaf; the Assistant Secretary-General at the United Nations Development Programme, Ms. Sima Bahous; and my Envoy on Youth, Mr. Ahmad Alhendawi, who is with me here today. The role of youth lies at the heart of international peace and security. We have to encourage young people to take up the causes of peace, diversity and mutual respect. Youth represent promise, not peril. While some young people do commit heinous acts of violence, the overwhelming majority yearn for peace, especially in conflict situations. Many of those who commit violence are victimized by depraved adults who abuse youthful innocence. Over and over, we see young people bearing the brunt of violent extremism. We cannot forget the girls in Chibok, Nigeria.”
2015-04-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7432 (2015) · source
“I am honoured by the presence of His Royal Highness Crown Prince Al Hussein bin Abdullah II of Jordan, whose delegation has so ably led the Security Council this month. His Royal Highness is the youngest person ever to preside over a meeting of the Council. That is perfect for today's discussion. He is not yet 21 years old, but he is already a leader in the twenty-first century. I thank him for presiding over this important meeting. I am deeply grateful to Jordan for its many contributions to the United Nations on peace, development and human rights. I especially appreciate the many Jordanians serving as my senior advisers, including the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mr. Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein; the Executive Secretary of the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia, Ms.”
2015-04-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7432 (2015) · source
“Too many lives have been lost, too many families have been destroyed, too many livelihoods have been shattered and too much distrust has been sown. Ultimately, the parties themselves must demonstrate the commitment and courage necessary to chart a viable course towards a better future.”
2015-04-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7430 (2015) · source
“Both sides need to see more constructive actions, such as Israel's recent approval of a master plan for building 2,500 housing units and public buildings for the Palestinian population in East Jerusalem. Such steps can help to reduce pressure, but they also need to lead to tangible results. The international community must do more to promote a return to negotiations that will end nearly half a century of occupation and allow two States, Israel and Palestine, to live side by side in security and peace. I am encouraged by current discussions among Member States. The United Nations is committed to supporting such efforts. Both sides face difficult choices. But one choice stands above all others: whether to choose peace or the death, destruction and suffering that have defined the conflict for far too long.”
2015-04-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7430 (2015) · source
“Without immediate funding, the World Food Programme will be forced to suspend its food assistance to 95,000 Palestinians in Gaza by July. Gaza's water and energy supply is also perilously unstable, with no long-term solution in sight. I again urge donors to fulfil pledges made in Cairo last October. In the West Bank, clashes between Israeli security forces and Palestinians continue, along with the destruction of Palestinian-owned structures. Administrative detentions are increasing at an alarming pace, including the recent arrest of and charges against a member of the Palestinian Legislative Council. Such realities feed frustration and tension in a vicious cycle that undermines the path to peace.”
2015-04-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7430 (2015) · source
“Until the crossings are fully reopened within the framework of resolution 1860 (2009), the temporary Gaza Reconstruction Mechanism shall continue to serve as a critical tool to alleviate the suffering of Gaza's people. To date, the Mechanism has enabled approximately 70 per cent of households in need of shelter repairs to procure the necessary materials. Additionally, 60 of 130 projects funded by the international community and the private sector have been approved by Israel, with six of these currently under way. These are promising developments, yet the needs remain enormous. Despite the generosity of some donors, critical funding gaps threaten stability. Humanitarian agencies are struggling to raise the $720 million needed for temporary shelters for 100,000 internally displaced people.”
2015-04-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7430 (2015) · source
“Seven months since my last visit to Gaza, I continue to be concerned by the fragile security situation, the lack of progress on intra-Palestinian reconciliation and the pace of reconstruction. Gaza is facing a crushing financial crisis. Public sector employees remain unpaid. The impact of the conflict and of extreme poverty on Palestinians in Gaza has been severe. I urge the international community to support a second humanitarian payment to Palestinian civil servants in Gaza as an integral part of the necessary and agreed crucial reforms. I welcome ongoing efforts to promote Palestinian reconciliation. The Government of National Consensus must assume its leadership of Gaza, including control of border crossings.”
2015-04-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7430 (2015) · source
“I strongly urge the incoming Government to reaffirm Israel's commitment to the two-State solution and to take credible steps to foster an environment conducive to a return to meaningful negotiations, including a freeze of settlement activity. I welcome the agreement reached last week between the Palestinian Authority and the Government of Israel, under which Israel has now transferred more than $470 million in revenues collected on behalf of the Palestinian Authority. I wish to underline, however, that the recurrent withholding of such revenues is counterproductive and seriously undermines the ability of the Government of Palestine to carry out its responsibilities. I urge the parties to find a sustainable solution on tax collection in line with the Paris Protocol of the Oslo Accords.”
2015-04-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7430 (2015) · source
“I am grateful to the Kingdom of Jordan for organizing today's meeting. It comes at yet another crucial period in the evolution of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, as the whole region is threatened by violent conflicts and extremism. Over the years, we have seen determined efforts to achieve a comprehensive, negotiated peace based on a two-State solution. Instead of peace, however, there have been decades of missed opportunities and failures that have come at an enormous human cost. The prospect of a two-State solution continues to recede, with potentially explosive consequences. In the coming weeks, a new Israeli Government will be formed.”
2015-04-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7430 (2015) · source
“Next month, the President of the General Assembly and I will invite leaders from different faith communities to a special event at the United Nations. We will build on the experience of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations to promote mutual understanding and reconciliation. (spoke in French) The Middle East is widely considered the cradle of many of the world's great civilizations. Today, let us resolve to empower people - especially youth - to transform the region into the birthplace of a more stable and secure world.”
2015-03-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7419 (2015) · source
“The United Nations is developing a plan of action on preventing violent extremism, which we will launch in September. We are also strengthening our efforts to champion and protect diversity in the Middle East. I intend to convene a group of respected women and men with deep understanding of the region's religious, civil, cultural, academic and business sectors. They will serve as an advisory panel on inter- and intra-sectarian dynamics. Governments and parties have the primary responsibility for protecting minorities, but we must engage with partners in civil society, faith leaders and others with influence, including regional and other actors. I especially look to religious and community leaders to clearly remind their followers that religions are about peace, not Violence and war.”
2015-03-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7419 (2015) · source
“I call on all countries to give generously to help the millions of Syrians who are suffering, and to assist the neighbouring countries that shoulder most of the burden. Such humanitarian assistance is also vital to the region's political stability. I am deeply concerned about developments in Libya. Daesh-affiliated groups are targeting minorities and attacking religious sites. Amid widespread Violence, religious minorities remain highly vulnerable. The main parties must quickly reach agreement to bring an end to the military and political conflict. That is crucial to curb the danger of Libya falling into the hands of terrorist groups. I am also concerned at the ongoing tribal tensions in the South, which could ignite Violence along identity lines. No strategy will succeed without strong regional cooperation and an empowered Libyan State.”
2015-03-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7419 (2015) · source
“Five years into the conflict in Syria, the lack of accountability has led to an exponential rise in war crimes, crimes against humanity and other human rights violations. Both Government forces and non-State armed groups in Syria, especially Daesh and Jabhat Al-Nusra, have committed such deplorable acts. As we consider the plight of minority communities, we must avoid highlighting differences and reaffirm the values of diversity and peaceful coexistence. I urge the international community, particularly the Security Council, to overcome differences and seek new ways to ensure the protection of all Syrian civilians. In a few days, I will travel to Kuwait to attend an international pledging conference for Syria.”
2015-03-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7419 (2015) · source
“There is strong evidence that members of a number of different minorities have been Victims of crimes against humanity, war crimes and other very serious violations and abuses ofhuman rights. That is especially true for women and girls. We must also remember that violent extremism in Iraq precedes Daesh's advance. The underlying conditions must be addressed. I welcome steps by the Iraqi Government to further national reconciliation, promote inclusion, strengthen social cohesion and reform the security sector. I call on the Government to do more to uphold human rights and restore the rule of law in areas liberated from Daesh. The international community must help Iraq in this effort.”
2015-03-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7419 (2015) · source
“I also stress again that abuses in counter-terrorism are morally wrong and strategically counterproductive. The commission of atrocities never absolves Governments of their responsibility to honour human rights obligations. In Iraq, the mission of investigation of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights cited information strongly suggesting that Daesh may have perpetrated genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes. My Special Advisers on the Prevention of Genocide and on the Responsibility to Protect warned last August that acts committed by Daesh pointed to the risk of genocide. Now we also see sectarian Violence against local populations in areas liberated from its control.”
2015-03-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7419 (2015) · source
“We see this spreading in Syria, Iraq and now in Libya - and even Yemen, where the bombing of mosques lastweek has further fuelled sectarian violence. I condemn in the strongest terms all persecution and violations of the rights to life and physical integrity of individuals and communities based on religious, ethnic, national, racial or other grounds. I urge all parties to ensure the protection of civilians and spare innocent lives. The members of the Security Council - and all those with influence - must help the people of the region reclaim their historic diversity and dynamism. That is essential to securing our common future. (spoke in English) The atrocity crimes in the region demand an urgent response. We must end impunity for those committing serious crimes against any and all communities.”
2015-03-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7419 (2015) · source
“I thank the French Foreign Minister for convening this high- level debate. I am deeply concerned about the grave dangers facing minorities in parts of the Middle East. At stake are millions of individual lives and the social fabric of entire countries. Right now, thousands of civilians are at the mercy of the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), also known as Daesh. Its fighters are systematically killing ethnic and religious minorities, those who disagree with its warped interpretation of Islam and anyone who opposes its apocalyptic Vision. They are targeting women and children with heinous brutality and they are destroying religious and cultural symbols that constitute the heritage of humanity.”
2015-03-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7419 (2015) · source